The condition of the Oyugis Water Supply Project has exposed serious questions about how public projects are managed under Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, after Water Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa publicly declared the facility effectively dead and demanded urgent action.
Mugaa made the remarks while inspecting the project in the presence of Governor Wanga and other officials. His concerns were not about politics or campaign promises. They were about a water treatment system that was supposed to provide clean and safe water to residents but had already fallen into a poor state less than two years after commissioning.
The Cabinet Secretary pointed out that the sand filters had not been changed since the facility began operating.
The filters were heavily clogged, affecting the plant’s ability to properly treat water. Mugaa also raised concerns that water treated in one section of the facility could become contaminated again further along the system.
Even more troubling was his claim that the system had never been backwashed, a basic maintenance process necessary for keeping the filters working properly. He told engineers at the site that such a facility could not be allowed to operate in that condition.
Mugaa then turned his attention to the county administration, advising Governor Wanga to bring in an experienced operator to manage the facility before the situation became worse.
He warned that failure to act could result in the loss of millions of litres of water and create further frustration among residents who depend on the project.
The public criticism raises a bigger question about whether Homa Bay County is getting value from the projects it launches and funds.
Wanga has built a strong political profile and often presents herself as a leader focused on development and service delivery.
But the condition of the Oyugis plant presents an uncomfortable contrast.
A project designed to provide one of the most basic services, clean water, is struggling because of what appears to be poor maintenance and management.
The concerns do not end with the water project. Questions have also been raised about procurement and the use of public money within the county government.
One company that has attracted attention is Exxel Fortune Enterprises Limited, which was registered months after Wanga took office in 2022.
The company later received contracts worth millions of shillings from the county government and Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Reports have raised questions about individuals associated with the company, including Maxwel Nyasuna, who has been identified by public figures as a relative of the governor. These claims require proper investigation and clear explanations from the relevant authorities.
Allegations should not automatically be treated as proof of wrongdoing, but they deserve answers when public money is involved.
There have also been concerns over cash withdrawals linked to payments made to the company. Where large amounts of public money are withdrawn in cash, the public has a legitimate interest in knowing where the money went, who received it and what services were delivered in return.
Auditor reports have added another layer to the concerns surrounding the county’s finances. Questions have been raised over hospital revenue that could not be fully accounted for, while pending bills have continued to accumulate.
There have also been concerns about workers who were identified as possible ghost employees remaining on county payrolls.
Other projects have faced similar criticism. A maize milling plant intended to support farmers has reportedly remained idle, denying local producers the expected benefits.
Ward development projects have also attracted complaints, with some Members of the County Assembly demanding explanations over funds allocated for projects that residents say were never completed.
These issues cannot simply be brushed aside as political attacks. County governments control large amounts of public money and are expected to turn those resources into functioning services. Residents do not benefit from projects merely because they are launched, photographed or included in official reports.
They benefit when those projects actually work.
That is why the Oyugis water project should be treated as more than a technical problem. It is a test of accountability.
If a water treatment plant can deteriorate so badly in less than two years, residents have every reason to ask who was responsible for its maintenance, who inspected it and why obvious problems were allowed to continue.
Governor Wanga now faces a responsibility to provide clear answers. She should explain what went wrong, who was tasked with operating the plant and what action her administration will take to restore it.
The same standard should apply to county contracts, hospital finances, pending bills, payroll and stalled development projects.
